Cold snap follows months of above average weather

Iowa’s caught in the grip of a cold snap that may seem unusual because of the mild winters of recent years. State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says Iowa’s had above normal average temperatures for most of the last year and the cold snaps that did come didn’t last all that long.

Hillaker says the only months last year that were below normal were September and October. January was slightly above normal in average temperature even though things cooled considerably at the end of the month — starting a chilly trend. He says the outlook for the next couple of weeks is colder than normal. Hillaker says February is on a pace to be below normal.

Hillaker says it will take quite a warm up in the second half of February to keep the average temperature from being below normal. Hillaker says it could end up being one of the coldest months we’ve had in some time. To see more on the state’s weather records check out the state climatologist’s website .